Top 6 US National Parks for Visitors with Disabilities

As national parks strive to enhance accessibility for travelers with disabilities, here are the leading parks making significant strides.

As visitors enter Yellowstone, America’s first national park, they pass through a majestic columnar basalt arch from 1903, bearing the park's mission: “For the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”

This is a noble promise rooted in democratic ideals—one that many US parks struggled to fulfill from the start. Since Yellowstone’s establishment in 1872, inadequate accessibility features often meant that these public spaces excluded individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities. However, a contemporary movement focusing on inclusion is helping to close this gap. Nowadays, accessibility is seen not as an afterthought in park maintenance but as a fundamental element, according to Jeremy Buzzell, Manager of the Park Accessibility for Visitors and Employees Program at the National Park Service (NPS).

In 2012, the NPS established the Accessibility Task Force, which initiated a five-year strategy to enhance disability access by 2020. Several parks now provide adaptive equipment for individuals with mobility challenges, allowing them to experience previously inaccessible landscapes. Some locations offer sign language interpretation tours for the deaf or hard-of-hearing, tactile maps for those who are blind or have low vision, and sensory guides for visitors with cognitive disabilities. Yet, significant challenges to inclusion remain for the NPS.

'One of our primary challenges is balancing preservation efforts with the need to provide access,' notes Buzzell. He cites the Statue of Liberty as an example: preserving the iconic structure's 19th-century design, established before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) set universal design standards in 1990, means that an accessible elevator to her crown is unlikely to ever be realized.

These challenges complicate the process for disabled individuals trying to determine which national parks are worth visiting. Accessibility varies from park to park, and there isn’t a universal solution for meeting access requirements. Buzzell recommends that travelers with disabilities check the NPS accessibility portal and reach out to specific parks ahead of their visit.

'It's crucial to conduct as much research as possible before your journey,' advises Cory Lee, an accessible travel blogger who uses a wheelchair. 'By planning ahead, you can save time once you arrive and fully enjoy the park experience.'

Candy Harrington, the founding editor of the accessible travel news site Emerging Horizons and author of guidebooks on accessible national parks, advises looking for detailed descriptions of hiking trails, even if they are marked as “accessible.” An ADA symbol doesn’t always indicate that a trail will cater to everyone’s access needs. Before you start your research, however, you need to select a destination—a challenging endeavor given that there are 428 official NPS sites. We’ve curated a list of the most accessible locations, including one state park, so that everyone from hikers with hearing loss to nature enthusiasts with autism can enjoy the wonders of the outdoors.

Essential Information Before Your Visit

U.S. citizens and permanent residents with disabilities can obtain an Access Pass, which allows free entry to over 2000 federal recreation areas across the country. The pass is complimentary, aside from a $10 processing fee, and covers national parks, wildlife refuges, and forests.

1. Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite offers everything: stunning granite cliffs, towering sequoias, breathtaking waterfalls, and experiences tailored to nearly every access need. Wheelchair users can easily navigate the park using accessible shuttles that take visitors to paved trailheads, including the one-mile paths around Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall.

'You can even rent a handcycle in Yosemite Valley,' notes Harrington, allowing disabled athletes to glide around the park's relatively flat terrain. For visually impaired visitors, tactile models provide a multisensory experience at iconic viewpoints like Tunnel View, famously captured by photographer Ansel Adams, offering views of granite giants such as El Capitan, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock.

Yosemite's most notable achievement in accessibility is its program ensuring that all visitors can connect with nature. In 1979, it became the first NPS site to hire a deaf services coordinator among its summer rangers. Today, this role is full-time, managing the most comprehensive programming for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in a national park. Download Yosemite's accessibility guide for further details.

2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, Michigan

This 35-mile stretch along Michigan's Gold Coast was once inaccessible for wheelchair users. With over a dozen sun-soaked beaches, 100 miles of challenging forest trails, and towering dunes reaching 300 feet, it wasn’t exactly wheelchair-friendly. However, in 2019, Friends of Sleeping Bear—a non-profit focused on enhancing public enjoyment of the area—introduced track chairs (motorized chairs equipped with treaded tracks) to allow individuals with mobility impairments to navigate rugged terrain.

Visitors can reserve track chairs to glide along scenic paths like the meadow-lined Bay View Trail or rent sand wheelchairs to explore the dunes and beaches. For those seeking water activities, an ADA-compliant dock at Loon Lake features an accessible canoe and kayak transfer-and-launch system. There are also accessible campsites at Platte River Campground, just a short distance from Loon Lake, perfect for unwinding.

3. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California

The journey to accessible outdoor experiences is often hindered by a lack of reliable, firsthand information—embarking on a trip without a disability-friendly plan can feel overwhelming. However, in these twin parks, which link majestic redwoods to the tallest peak in the contiguous United States, information on accessibility is just a click away.

In 2021, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks launched a series of short films featuring local visitors making use of accessible amenities, including an ASL tour of Crystal Cave, tactile exhibits leading to the world’s largest trees, and wheelchair-accessible campsites at the vibrant Buckeye Campground.

For those new to national parks, these films provide reassurance. There’s no need to worry about figuring everything out on your own—there’s ample evidence that you can explore at your own pace. Additionally, the parks are adjacent to Visalia, a Certified Autism Destination, ensuring that visitors with autism and other sensory sensitivities will feel welcome and secure while in town.

4. Devil's Tower National Monument, Wyoming

Devil’s Tower rises 1,267 feet into the sky, a stunning columnar basalt monolith located in the northwestern corner of Wyoming—an iconic landmark amidst vast grasslands. Revered as sacred by indigenous peoples, it has become a pilgrimage site for nature enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, climbing, stargazing, and birdwatching within the 1,347-acre park.

Following accessibility improvements made in 2021, the national monument is equipped with a range of disability-friendly features, including trails, restrooms, parking, and interactive exhibits. Among these are tactile sculptures, such as a bronze model along the trail to Devil's Tower, allowing visually impaired hikers to feel the natural cracks formed by columnar jointing. For adventurous souls, Devil's Tower Lodge provides adaptive climbing experiences tailored for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

5. Acadia National Park, Maine

The highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic Coast might seem daunting for those with mobility challenges, with steep hikes and rugged shores prevalent. However, with 45 miles of gravel carriage roads and a 27-mile loop road, Acadia, the only national park in New England, is perfectly suited for easy exploration.

“The view from the summit of Cadillac Mountain is breathtaking,” shares Cory Lee, who navigated to the park's highest peak using a power wheelchair in 2022. “There was a paved path leading to the overlook, making it fully accessible.” Lee also suggests the wheelchair-friendly Jesup Path, which winds through beautiful stands of birch and hemlock trees. While it’s possible to tour Acadia's attractions in a single day via Park Loop Road, the accessible picnic areas, campsites, and beaches (including a path to the serene Echo Lake) make an overnight visit worthwhile. For those who prefer not to camp, the Island Explorer—a free, accessible shuttle bus—connects the park to nearby villages from late June to mid-October.

6. Letchworth State Park, New York

Letchworth lives up to its title as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” showcasing deep gorges sculpted by powerful rapids along 66 miles of trails. With each turn, there’s another breathtaking sight, but for outdoor lovers with cognitive disabilities, a particular one-mile loop stands out.

The Autism Nature Trail (ANT) offers a serene escape into nature, “crafted specifically for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, yet suitable for visitors of all abilities and ages,” explains Loren Penman, a retired educator and co-founder of ANT. Hikers can engage with eight sensory stations along the loop, featuring natural elements like nuts, pinecones, and fossilized rocks. There are also “Alone Zones” where visitors can take a moment to relax during their journey.

The trail is self-guided, but for those seeking a more structured experience, scheduled programs led by staff from Camp Puzzle Peace—a camp designed for families and children with autism—are available. A single mother of three reached out to the ANT team, expressing, “This is exactly what we've been searching for,” according to Penman. Two of her children are on the autism spectrum, and while the family enjoys traveling, finding sensory-friendly activities can be tough. The ANT was an ideal solution, offering a space where enjoying nature aligns with their needs, making accessibility a core aspect rather than an afterthought.

This article was originally authored by Alissa Greenberg, with an updated version published in 2023.